Fayetteville, AR Nursing Home Ratings

Overall Rating of 17 Nursing Homes Rating: 5 out of 5 (2) Much above average Rating: 4 out of 5 (5) Above average Rating: 3 out of 5 (3) Average Rating: 2 out of 5 (6) Below average Rating: 1 out of 5 (1) Much below averageAugust 2018

Every nursing home resident deserves to receive the best medical, assisted and nursing care available. By law, nursing homes are required to guarantee that every one of their residents receives appropriate and adequate services to meet their health and hygiene needs. Unfortunately, many residents become victims of neglect, mistreatment or negligence at the hands of those who are paid to provide them with quality care. Because of that, the Fayetteville nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC provide immediate legal recourse to ensure that the harm and injury caused to your loved one stops immediately.

Throughout the year, Medicare routinely collects data on every nursing facility in Fayetteville based on information gathered through surveys, inspections and investigations. The federal database reveals that seven (41%) of the seventeen Fayetteville nursing facilities are deemed to be below the national averages after serious deficiencies and violations were found by investigators. If your loved one was mistreated, abused, injured, harmed or died unexpectedly from neglect while living in a nursing home in Fayetteville, let us protect your rights starting now. Contact the Fayetteville nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center (800-926-7565) today to schedule a free case consultation to discuss filing a claim for compensation to recover your damages

In many incidences, nursing home physicians misdiagnose conditions or prescribe the wrong medication, causing more harm than good for their residents. Other times, the nursing staff is overworked or underpaid and does not provide a quality level of care due to overcrowding. This is a significant problem in Washington County, where one out of every 10 of the 225,000 residents are senior citizens. The aging population has increased significantly over the last few decades, placing a severe hardship on many nursing homes that are unable to keep up with the demand.

Fayetteville Nursing Home Resident Health Concerns

Nursing facilities providing substandard nursing and hygiene care are a significant problem all throughout Washington County. Because of that, our Arkansas elder abuse lawyers continuously review national databases that report opened investigations, health concerns and filed complaints against nursing facilities nationwide. The publicly available information from Medicare.gov can be used as an effective tool to decide where to place a loved one in a nursing home in the Fayetteville area.

Comparing Fayetteville Area Nursing Facilities

Our Fayetteville elder abuse lawyers have compiled the list below outlining nursing facilities throughout the Fayetteville area that currently maintain below average ratings compared other nursing homes throughout the United States. In addition, we’ve added our primary concerns and detailed cases at these facilities that have caused actual physical, emotional or mental harm or has the potential of causing harm to their residents through abuse, accident hazards, unsanitary conditions or other problems.

Information on Arkansas Nursing Home Abuse & Negligence Lawsuits

Our attorneys have compiled data from settlements and jury verdicts across Arkansas to give you an idea as to how cases are valued. Learn more about the cases below:

Failure to Provide Residents an Environment Free of Abuse from Other Residents

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/19/2015, a complaint investigation was opened against the facility for its failure to “ensure one-to-one supervision was consistently provided to decrease the potential for further aggressive behaviors directed toward others.” This deficient practice directly involved one resident “who lived on the B-Hall on 10/15/2015 through 10/17/2015.” The failure of the facility “have potential to affect 17 residents who lived on the B-Hall.”

The state investigator reviewed a resident’s Admission Five-day MDS (Minimum Data Set) with an Assessment Reference Date of 10/15/2015. The records indicated that the resident was severely cognitive impaired as was stated on their Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) with “fluctuating signs of delirium of inattention and disorganized thinking [and a] mood score of 17 [where a range of 15 through 19 indicates moderately severe depression.”

The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) report also stated that the resident had “delusions as an indicator of psychosis [… and] physical behavior symptoms directed toward others and other behavioral symptoms not directed toward others [which occurred 4 to 6 times in the last seven days]”. The resident also “rejected care and wandered daily and the wandering significantly intruded on the privacy in activities of others [but] required limited physical assistance of one person for transfers and required supervision and setup help only for walking.”

The complaint investigation was initiated after review of the facility’s 10/15/2015 7:00 PM Resident Incident Report documenting that the resident “entered [another resident’s] room [who] asked her to leave. [The wandering resident] started going through [the other resident’s] dresser drawers.” When the other resident responded by getting up and pushing the wandering resident “who then fell to the ground on her left side.” The nursing staff completed a head to toe assessment of the wandering resident and notify the police of the occurrence. The report indicates that the resident remains on one-to-one supervision.

However, the state surveyor reviewed the facility’s Staffing Assignment Sheets provided by the facility’s Director of Nursing which did not indicate there was any “documentation of one-to-one supervision provided for 10/15/2015 and 10/17/2015 on the 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM shifts. The report indicated that only one Certified Nursing Assistant works the 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM shift for the entire B-Hall.

The state surveyor conducted a 3:40 PM 11/15/2015 interview with the facility’s Director of Nursing who was asked “why there was no one-to-one supervision for [those specific shifts].” The Director of Nursing replied “there was no need for one-to-one supervision when the resident is sleeping.” The state surveyor then asked “who would supervise a resident when the [Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)] was assisting other residents with the door closed and there was only one CNA on the hall?” The Director of Nursing replied “the resident was sleeping.”

Our Fayetteville nursing home neglect attorneys recognize the failing to provide adequate supervision to ensure that all residents are protected from resident to resident assault could jeopardize the well-being of all residents living in the facility. The deficient practice of the nursing staff and administration at Fayetteville Health and Rehabilitation Center might be considered negligence or mistreatment.

Failure to Follow Procedures and Protocols to Provide Necessary Services and Care So That Every Resident Can Maintain Their Highest Well-Being

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 02/13/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure necessary care and services were provided for management of an indwelling urinary catheter.” This deficient practice was “evidenced by the failure to ensure the that the catheter tubing was secured to prevent potential dislodgment or trauma to the urinary meatus and [the failure] to ensure the urinary drainage bag was kept off the floor to prevent potential cross-contamination infection.” This failure affected one resident at the facility “who had indwelling urinary catheters.”

The deficient practice was noted that the failure of the nursing staff at Walnut Grove Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have the potential to affect 16 residents “who had indwelling urinary catheters.”

The state surveyor conducted a review of the resident’s Quarterly MDS (Minimum Data Set) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 02/01/2015 that documented that the resident’s had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) of 3 where a score between 0 – 7 indicates severely impaired. The resident was also legally incontinent of bladder and bowel.

The state surveyor conducted a 12:27 PM 02/10/2015 observation of the facility noting that to Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) “transferred the resident from the bed to the wheelchair. During the transfer, [one CNA] remove the urinary drainage bag from the privacy bag and placed it on the floor. The urinary drainage bag remained on the floor as [the CNA] walked around to the back of the wheelchair.” The CNA “then picked up the urinary back from the floor and place it into the privacy bag that was attached under the wheelchair.”

The following dated 8:55 AM, to Certified Nursing Assistants once again transferred a resident from the wheelchair to the bed placing the urinary drainage bag from under the wheelchair onto the floor before picking up the urinary drainage bag “into the privacy bag that was attached to the side of the bed. The catheter tubing was not secured to the resident. During the catheter care, the tubing was pulled taut against the resident’s urinary meatus.”

State surveyor conducted a 9:40 AM 02/12/2015 interview with the facility’s Director of Nursing who was informed that the CNA “placed urinary drainage bag on the floor.” The Director of Nursing replied “they know better than that; that’s why we have a privacy bag.”

Our Springdale nursing home neglect attorneys recognize the failing to follow protocols when providing treatment and care to residents requiring an indwelling urinary catheter could cause additional harm and cross-contamination. The deficient practice of the nursing staff at Walnut Grove Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedure titled: Catheterization that reads in part.

“Reminders: catheter tubing should be secured to the thigh in order to not permit pulling and pressure on the sphincter muscle.”

Failure to Ensure All Doctor Visits Are Made Personally by a Doctor as Required

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/07/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure that visits were made by the physician at least every other month alternating with the Nurse Practitioner after the first 90 days following [admittance up to residents to the facility] who had a [specific physician] as their attending physician.”

The deficient practice was noted that the failed practice of the nursing staff and administration at Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center “had the potential to affect 96 residents who had [a specific physician] as their attending physician.”

The state surveyor conducted a review of a resident’s Quarterly MDS (Minimum Data Set) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) on 07/06/2015 that “documented the resident was admitted to the facility on 03/01/2014 and reentered the facility from an acute hospital [at a later date with a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score] of 15 [where 13 through 15 indicates cognitively intact.” The document also indicated that the resident “required extensive assistance of one to two for most [ADL (activities of daily living)] and had not had any physician examination since the last assessment.”

“On 08/04/2015 at 9:50 AM, the resident complained she had not seen her physician in quite some time and she had been at the facility since last year.”

In a separate incident, the state investigator conducted a 9:40 AM 08/04/2015 interview with a male resident at the facility who stated “he had only seen his physician one time since he had come there in 2012 […and] the only reason for that visit was because he saw the physician on the hallway and told the staff he needed to see him. He also stated that when he needed something since then he would ask to see him and all he would do is call him and get an [a physician’s order for treatment].”

The state surveyor conducted a review of that resident’s records beginning on the first day of 2015 up until 08/06/2015. The documentation and showed that the APN had seen the resident on 01/27/2015, on 02/18/2015 He Was Seen by the OD (Osteopathic Doctor), on 03/09/2015 he was seen by the APN and on 05/17/2015 he was seen by the APN. There is no documentation available for review that his physician had seen him [at all] in 2015.

The state surveyor conducted an 8:54 AM 08/07/2015 interview with the facility Nurse Consultant who was “asked if the frequency of physician visits for these two residents was acceptable.” The Nurse Consultant replied “no, according to the regulatory requirements the physician is to see each resident monthly for the first 90 days after admission and then at least every other month alternating with the APN thereafter.”

Our Springdale nursing home neglect lawyers recognize the failing to follow protocols to ensure that every resident is seen by their attending physician at least one time every other month could endanger their health and well-being. The deficient practice by the nursing staff at Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center might be considered mistreatment or negligence.

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 07/02/2015, a state surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure doors were free from sharp and/or jagged edges to prevent the potential for injury [in three of the six halls at the facility.”

The deficient practice was noted that this failed practice of the facility “had the potential to affect six independently mobile residents on Hall F, eight independently mobile residents on Hall E and five independently mobile residents on Hall D.”

The state surveyor conducted a tour of the facilities at 3:15 PM on 06/30/2015 and observed “a large gouge, possibly four inches in length with sharp edges and the plastic on the right fire door facing away from the nursing circle on Hall F in approximately three feet up the door on the hinge side.” An additional notation was made of a large gouge on the hinge side of the door approximately 30 inches up from the floor with exposed to sharp edges on a resident’s door.

The state surveyor also observed “a large gouge, probably four inches in length with sharp edges, in the plastic on the right fire door facing away from the nursing circle on Hall D located at the top of the second hinge from the bottom of the door.

Our Rogers nursing home neglect attorneys recognize that failing to provide an environment free of accident hazards has the potential of causing serious harm of a resident caused by an avoidable accident. The deficient practice of the maintenance staff at Rogers Health and Rehabilitation Center might be considered negligence or mistreatment.

Failure to Provide Acceptable Levels of Housekeeping and Maintenance Services

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 07/02/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure a sanitary, orderly and comfortable interior was maintained.”

The deficient practice was noted by the state investigator after reviewing the facility on numerous days. “On 06/22/2015 from 8:15 AM to 9:06 AM. Resident’s room 23, 31, 34, and 58 had strong urine odors.” The state investigator also noted that at 12:44 PM on 06/29/2015, “resident room 63 had a urine odor.”

An additional observation made on 06/22/2015 from 8:18 AM to 9:06 AM “the following stained walls and soiled wheelchairs / Geri chairs were observed:

In room 33, the resident’s wheelchair “was soiled with dried food substance on each side of the resident in seat and there was accumulation of debris in the crevices.”

In room 37, the wall on the left side of the bed “was stained and discolored a yellowish brown color in the area that was approximately three feet by four feet.”

In room 41, the resident’s wheelchair “was soiled with the dried substance on each side of the resident, in the chair seat and in the crevices.”

In room 47, the resident’s wheelchair “was soiled with the dried substance on the side of the resident, in the seat.”

In room 56B, the resident’s wheelchair “was dirty and stained in the seat area, with dried debris.”

In room 58B, the resident “had a Geri chair soiled with dry food debris surrounding where the resident was to sit.”

The state surveyor also conducted a 06/29/2015 observation tours throughout the facility between 12:32 PM and 1:01 PM and noted torn areas of several chairs throughout Highlands of Northwest Arkansas Therapy and Living that included:

In room 60, the resident had a chair “with a tattered arm, the left side of the chair was torn, exposing foam padding and a metal bar. The sitting cushion was stained with a light-colored substance.”

In the day room, there was a chair “with torn vinyl on the left arm that had an approximate measurement of 12 inches by 9 inches […and] a second chair that had a torn area on the left arm […and] and right arm [with] two torn areas.”

The state surveyor conducted a 06/29/2015 1:42 PM interview with the resident in room 30 who stated “the facility was not as clean as [this resident] wants. The floors are not mopped very often.”

Our Rogers nursing home neglect attorneys recognize that any failure to provide a clean and sanitary environment has the potential of jeopardizing the health and well-being of every resident in the facility. The deficient practice of the administration, housekeeping and maintenance services might be considered negligence or mistreatment of the residents.

Failure to Take Necessary Precautions to Minimize the Potential of Medication Errors from Occurring

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/15/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure the medication error rate was less than 5% to prevent potential complications.” This deficient practice directly affected for residents “observed during the medication passes resulting in medication errors.”

The deficient practice was noted after an observation that “medication errors were made by two licensed practical nurses [observed] administering medications. The failed practice has the potential to affect all 65 residents who received medications administered from these nurses.” The state surveyor noted that the “medication error rate was 9.52 % based on 42 medications administered [that had a] total of four errors detected.”

A review of one resident’s medical records indicated that the resident “was to receive 15 units subcutaneously before meals and at bedtime” to ensure capillary blood glucose levels remain at acceptable levels. However, an observation on 01/12/2015 at 4:18 PM during the 4:30 PM/5:00 PM medication pass the LPN providing the resident services check the resident’s capillary blood glucose levels, and at 4:26 PM the Licensed Practical Nurse “administered 15 units of [the resident’s medication] at least 60 minutes before the evening meal was scheduled to be served.”

The state surveyor noted that based on manufacturer’s instructions, the resident’s medication “has a more rapid onset in shorter duration of action than regular human insulin […and] and injection of [the resident’s medication] should be immediately followed by meal within 5 to 10 minutes.”

A review of a different resident’s medical records indicated that based on their physician’s orders that any capillary blood glucose (CBG) level of 0-150 “the resident was to receive 0 units and for a CBG level greater than 150, the resident was to receive 16 units subcutaneously with meals.” However, an observation of the resident being administered medications on 01/12/2015 at 4:48 PM, the Licensed Practical Nurse “check the resident’s CBG and obtained a reading of 228 mg/dl. The resident was in his room, but stated he received meals in the dining room.”

Our Bentonville nursing home neglect attorneys recognize the failing to take necessary precautions and minimize the potential of a medication error could cause significant harm to the health and well-being of the resident. The deficient practice of the nursing staff at Bentonville Health and Rehabilitation Center violates federal and state regulations and does not follow the established procedures and protocols adopted by the facility. This deficient practice far exceeds acceptable levels of medication errors and might be considered mistreatment or neglect of all residents affected by this failure.

Dangerous Situations can Harm the Resident

A high percentage of nursing facilities nationwide do not have adequate staff members to ensure that the resident’s needs are properly cared for. Often times, the residents become victims because the staff members who did not receive appropriate fire drill training or CPR training or how to effectively care for any resident suffering psychological issues. Usually, the most harm comes to the resident when a dangerous situation occurs. Some of these might involve:

Failing to monitor handicapped or disabled residents who require assistance for turning, readjusting or mobility.

Failing to replace defective or old wheelchairs, canes, walkers and other walking devices.

Failing to remedy any accidental hazard in the facility in a timely manner to prevent avoidable accidents.

Failing to address the resident’s medical and hygiene needs promptly and efficiently.

Failing to properly administer medications that could lead to giving the resident unnecessary drugs.

When Immediate Jeopardy Occurs

Often times there is substantial physical evidence that an incident or accident occurred which could lead to an immediate jeopardy of their health and well-being. When these incidents happen, it is crucial to call the local police, 911 or other emergency services and gather evidence once law enforcement has the situation in hand. However, not every case of immediate jeopardy is obvious. Some less conspicuous events involving an immediate jeopardy could might include:

A facility-acquired bedsore that developed due to a lack of assistance of the nursing staff in repositioning, turning or moving the resident to minimize the potential of blood constriction to the resident’s skin.

Mysterious or unexplained injury/bruises.

Malnourished or dehydrated conditions.

Unreported changes of the resident’s condition.

Discussions with the staff that any change of the resident’s condition is a normal part of the aging process.

Unsanitary conditions of the facility that are often the result of overwhelmed staff members or nurses/employees that lack the proper training to ensure sanitary conditions are maintained.

A lack of protocol that leaves the spread of infection throughout the facility.

What You Can do

As an advocate for your loved one in a nursing facility, it is crucial to take immediate steps to reverse the immediate jeopardy. Start by having a discussion with the facility’s Administrator and/or Director of Nursing. Next, call law enforcement if necessary, especially if there are signs of physical or sexual assault. Finally, make contact with an Arkansas nursing home attorney who specializes in abuse, neglect and mistreatment cases.

The Fayetteville nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC will listen to your concerns and evaluate your case to determine the best course of legal action. Our Arkansas team of accomplished lawyers has represented many clients with elder abuse cases throughout Jefferson County.

We urge you to contact our Fayetteville elder abuse law offices today at (800) 926-7565 to schedule your free, no obligation appointment to discuss your case with our attorneys. All cases are handled through contingency fee arrangements, meaning you are not required to pay any upfront fee. All information you share with our firm remains confidential.

For additional information on Arkansas laws and information on nursing homes look here.

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa

★★★★★

After I read Jonathan’s Nursing Home Blog, I decided to hire him to look into my wife’s treatment at a local nursing home. Jonathan did a great job explaining the process and the laws that apply to nursing homes. I immediately felt at ease and was glad to have him on my side. Though the lawsuit process was at times frustrating, Jonathan reassured me, particularly at my deposition. I really felt like Jonathan cared about my wife’s best interests, and I think that came across to the lawyers for the nursing home. Eric